Floridians gather for annual Winter Springs’ Scottish Highland Games

Valencia Voice

Lake Jessup was renamed Loch Jessup as Winter Springs was host to the Scottish Highland Games this weekend.

This festival, that started on Friday and lasted until Sunday evening, included everything from whiskey tastings, to archery competitions, to live music, crafts, food, clan tents, and even a quidditch match.

The park was filled with families young and old celebrating their Scottish heritage as they paraded down the green in kilts and tartans of every plaid variety.

Many danced to the four musical groups playing up at the front. There was Orlando’s own Wyndbreakers, Cutthroat Shamrock, Uncle Hamish and the Hooligans from North Carolina, Rathkeltair, and all the way from Scotland, Albannach.

“My parents met here and I’ve been coming since I was a little kid” said Katie Dudgeon of Titusville.

The sportsmen were in high spirits as they were cheered on by the crowd through the caber toss, and the sheaf toss.

Of course, no Scottish festival is complete without fish and chips and haggis.  The lines for the food, whiskey and beer wrapped around the whole park.  Even a few dressed as knights of yore left their medieval camp to grab some haggis.

The weather was cold, but that didn’t seem to keep people away.

“It’s a great event to come to every year. It’s a lot of fun with great people,” said Walter O’Kan of St. Augustine, a member of the Clay County Pipes and Drums.

All-in-all, the 37th annual Scottish Highland games was an event full of merry making, music, games, and maybe a little bit of magic at Orlando’s little piece of Scotland.